President Mahinda Rajapaksa takes part in religious observances at the Samadhi International Buddhist Centre, Kalaththewa, Anuradhapura yesterday. Pic: Chandana Perera

The inaugural Aloka Pooja was held at Mihintale yesterday. Here the North Central Province Governor Karunaratne Divulgane, North Central Province Chief Minister S M Ranjith Samarakoon, Education Services Minister Duminda Dissanayake commission the illuminations. Navy Commander Jayanath Colambage, Ceylon Electricity Board General Manager Nihal Wickramasooriya, Lake House Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara look on. ANCL Directors were also present. The chief incumbent of the Mihintale Rajamaha Vihara Ven. Walahahengunawewe Dhammarata Nayaka Thera performed religious observances.

The distribution of Dongles, sponsored by Mobitel for the government media secretaries took place under the patronage of Minister of Public Management Reforms, Navin Dissanayake at the Ministry Auditorium, Sethsiripaya Battharamulla, recently. Here Minister Dissanayake presents the Mobitel Dongle to the Media Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, Hemasiri Gunathunga. Chief Secretary of the Government Media Secretaries Association Harsha B Abeykoon, Senior Vice President of the Association Ruwan Danansooriya and Senior Manager, Mobitel Sashika Senarath were also present at the occasion.

The Head of the Christian Religious Unit of the Presidential Secretariat, Rev. Sarath Hettiarachchi was awarded a doctorate for his sociological research study on the subject of the Book of five hundred and fifty Jataka Stories and Conflict Resolution, by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Ven. (Dr.) Velamitiyawe Kusala Dhamma Nayaka Thera at a convocation held this year.

Well-known creative artist Veranda Bandaranaike’s ‘Canvas Kitchen’ was opened at Colombo Road, Negombo recently. Savoury delicacies and other food varieties are available to the guests in an environment of music, sculpture and art. Amateur artists, sculptors and musicians are welcome. ANCL Chairman/Managing Director, Bandula Padmakumara and popular cine artiste Sathischandra Edirisinghe and Mrs. Edrisinghe are also in the picture. Pic: Shan Rupassara